Shipping case



Maw, 1935. M. w. SWAIM 2,024,075

SHIPPING CASE Filed April 29, 19 55 Sheets-Sheet l grime/whom I 114. WS/mim Dec. w, 1935.. w WAN 2,@24,075

SHIPPING CASE Filed April 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 FFEE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a shipping case, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a case of he class referred to, which after receipt by a consignee is capable of being conveniently opened, without damage thereto to permit of the contents thereof being quickly removed, used if desired by the consignee for ship ent, or collapsed and folded in a compact manner and returned to the consignor to be used again for shipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter t forth, a. shipping case having the body thereof formed of light weight material, such as card board, and having the edges at the ends thereof reinforced for reducing distortion of said edges to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner hereinafter set forth, a combined extendible and collapsible sectional shipping case including a set of removable locking elements for coupling the sections of the case together and for maintaining them in extended relation as well as latching the case, when extended closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined extendible and collapsible sectional shipping case including a. set of removable locking elements for coupling the sections of the case together and for maintaining them in extended relation, as well as latching the case, when extended closed, and with the sections of the case, when the latter is extended being so disposed as to conceal several of the locking elements.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a shipping case which is simple in its construction, strong, durable, extremely light in weight, thoroughly efiicient in its use, capable of being conveniently extended for use, readily collapsed when desired, capable of having the parts thereof arranged in a compact manner when collapsed, re-usable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a, perspective view of the case when extended and closed,

Figure 2 is a like view with the front wall of the case extended to open position,

Figure 3 is a'section on line 3-3, Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bottom, rear wall, top and front wall forming element, 5 Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the form of the partition and one of the side walls of the case,

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the form of one of the edge reinforcing and coupling 19 members employed in connection with the partition and one of the side walls of the case,

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the form of the combined side edges reinforcing and coupling members employed in connection with 15 the front and rear walls of the case,

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the form of the combined center reinforcing and coupling members employed in connection with the front and rear walls of the case, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the form of the locking elements employed in connection with the coupling members.

The case includes a bottom is, a pair of detachable side walls li, a rear wall H2, at front 25 wall I3, a top M, and a detachable partition 15 which coacts with the said bottom, top and walls of the case to provide the latter with a pair of compartments lfi The said bottom, top and walls of the case consist of very light material, 30 preferably card board of suitable thickness.

The bottom It, rear wall l2, front wall l3 and top i i are integral with each other and formed from a foldable oblong web it provided in one face with transversely extending equi-spaced par- 35 allel semicircular scores 5?, i8 and G9 which provide respectively a hinge between bottom 50 and rear wall l2, a hinge between rear wall I2 and top I 4 and a hinge between bottom 90 and front wall It. The top, bottom, rear and front walls are rectangular. The end walls and partition are square.

Secured to the transverse center of the inner faces of top l0, rear wall 12, front wall l3 and top M are combined reinforcing and coupling members 2?}, H, 22 and 23 respectively. The members 20 and 22 are of like form and consist of a fiat sectional body 2 formed of a pair of spaced parallel oblong thin metallic strips 25, 26 of the same length and width connected together by a series of spaced parallel semi-oval shaped extensions 21 integral with the strips at the inner lengthwise edges of the. latter. The extensions .21 are disposed at right angles with respect to the strips. The extension at one end of said series has its outer end flush with corresponding end edges of the strips. The extension at the other end of the series has its outer end spaced inwardly from the other corresponding end edges of the strips. These latter have spaced portions thereof struck therefrom to provide each strip with a set of spaced triangular shaped fastener barbs 23 for anchoring the members and 22 against the inner faces of the bottom and top of the case.

The members 2| and 23 are of like form and similar in construction to the members 20, 22, with this exception that both outer extensions of the series of extensions 29 of the member 2| or 23 are flush at their outer ends with the ends of the latter. ()therwise than as stated the members 2|, 23 correspond to the members 25, 22. The strips of members 2|, 23 which form the body 39 thereof (Figure 8) are designated 3|, 32 and the fastener barbs at 33. The members 2|, 23 are anchored by the barbs 33 against the inner faces of rear and front walls of the case.

The bottom It! and top l4, each has anchored thereto a pair of oppositely disposed combined side edge rear forcing and coupling members 34 of like form. The rear wall I2 and front wall l3, each has anchored thereto a pair of oppositely disposed combined side edge reinforcing and coupling members 35 of like form.

Each member 34 consists of a fiat sectional body 36 formed of an inner thin metallic strip 31 and an outer folded thin metallic strip 38 of U-shaped contour in transverse section and with the bends 39 of strip 38 forming an outer edge for body 35. The inner lengthwise edge of the outer fold 40 of the strip 38 opposes in parallel spaced relation the front edge of strip 31. The strips 31, 38 are of the same length and are connected together by a series of spaced parallel semi-oval shaped extensions 4| integral with strip 31 at its front lengthwise edge and integral with fold 40 at its inner lengthwise edges. The extensions 4| are disposed at right angles to the strips.

The extensions at one end of the series of extensions 4| has its outer end flush with the rear ends of the strips 31, 38. The extension at the other end of the series of extensions 4| has its outer end spaced from the front ends of the strips 31, 38. The strip 31 has spaced portions thereof struck therefrom to provide each strip with a set of spaced fastener barbs 42 which are employed for anchoring members 34 to the inner faces and in reinforcing and protecting relation with respect to the side edges of bottom 55 and top i l.

Each member 35 is similar in construction to that of any one of the members 36, with this exception that both outer extensions of the series of extensions 42 of the member 35 have their outer ends flush with the ends of the latter. Otherwise than that as stated the members 35 corresponding in form to that of members 34. The strips of a member 35 which form the body 43 thereof (Fig. 7) are indicated at 44, 45, the bend in strip 45 at 46, the outer fold of strip 45 at 41 and fastener barbs on strips 44, 45 at 48.

The members 35 are anchored to the inner faces of and in reinforcing and protecting relation with respect to the side edges of the walls l2, l3 by the barbs 41.

One of the end walls and the partition i5 are of the form shown in Figure 5 and consist of a square wall forming member 45 provided'with a pair of oppositely disposed upper and lower combined, edge reinforcing and coupling members 55 overlapping its top and bottom edges and a pair of oppositely disposed front and rear combined edge reinforcing and coupling members 5| overlapping its side edges. The members are of like form. The members 5| are of like form. The members 50, 5| are formed from a folded thin strip of metallic material and each is of U-shape in transverse section. The length of members is greater than that of the members 5| and they abut the ends of the members 5|.

Each member 50 includes a pair of spaced parallel folds 52, 53 and a rounded bend 54 connecting the folds together. Spaced aligning portions of each fold and spaced aligning portions of the bend are cut out to form member 55 with a set of spaced rectangular notches 55. Each member 55 is cut out at one of its outer corners to provide a rabbet 55 having a horizontal and a vertical edge. Each member 50 has extending from the free lengthwise edge 51 of its fold 52 a series of spaced bendable fastener barbs 51 for anchoring it to the wall forming member 49. The rabbet 55 of the upper member 5|] is arranged at the outer portion of the top edge of member 49 and has its vertical edge extending upwardly from the latter. The rabbet 56 of the lower member 50 is arranged at the rear portion of the bottom edge of member 49 and its vertical edge depends from the latter.

Each member 5| includes a pair of spaced parallel folds 58, 59 and a rounded bend 60 connecting said folds together. Spaced aligning portions of each mold 58, 59 and spaced aligning portions of the bend are cut out to form each member 5| with a set of spaced rectangular cutouts 60 Each member 55 is cut out at each outer corner thereof to provide the rabbets 5 62. Each member 5| has extending from the free lengthwise edges of its fold 58 a series of spaced bendable fastener barbs 53 for anchoring it to the Wall forming member 49.

The other end wall ll of the case includes a wall forming member 64, front and rear combined edge reinforcing and coupling members corresponding in form and arrangement to that of members 5| and upper and lower combined edge reinforcing and coupling members 66 corresponding in form to the members 50, but are arranged in a different manner upon wall forming member 64 than members 50 are arranged with respect to member 45. The upper member 66 has its rabbet arranged at the vertical edge of the rabbet of member 65, which extends above the rear end portion of the top edge of member 64. The lower member 56 has its rabbet arranged at the vertical edges of the rabbet depending from the rear end portion of the bottom edge of member 64.

When the case is set up and before being closed, the side walls and partitions are arranged relative to the bottom, rear wall, front wall and top whereby the bottom, rear and top notches of the side walls will receive respectively the extensions 4| on bottom Iii, the extensions 42 on rear wall i2 and the extensions 5| on top I4; the bottom, rear and top notches of the partition will receive respectively the extensions 21 on bottom ID, the extensions 29 on rear wall i2 and the extensions 21 on top I4; the front notches of the side walls will receive the extension 42 on the front wall I3; and the front notches on the partition will receive the extension 29 on the front wall.

The case includes bottom, rear, top and front sets of removable locking elements 61, 68, 59 and 15 respectively for detachably connecting the extensions to the combined edge reinforcing and coupling members 55 and 5| carried by the side walls and partition. Eachset consists of a pair of outer and intermediate locking elements. The locking elements are of like form and each consists of. an elongated bar H having one end terminal portion bent in a manner to provide an ofiset handle 12 directed towards the other end terminal portion of the rod. The bend indicated at 13 constitutes an abutment.

The outer locking elements of the set 67 extend through members 3& on bottom if! and the lower members 59 on the side walls for the purpose of locking the extensions ll on bottom it to the lower combined edge reinforcing and coupling members 58 carried by the end walls, and the intermediate locking element of the set 6? extends through member 26 on bottom l!) and lower member 59 on partition 85 for locking the extensions 2l' on bottom it to the lower combined edge reinforcing and coupling member 55 carried by the partition 55. The handle 72 of the elements El oppose the inner faces of the side walls and one of the side faces of the partition 55. The bends 73 of. element 8i about the rear ends of the lower members 5% and the members 3% on bottom it.

The outer locking members of the set 58 extend through the members 35 on rear wall 52 and through the rear member 55 on the side walls for locking the extensions 42 on rear wall 52 to the rear members 55 carried by the side walls, and the intermediate locking element of the set 68 extends through the member 25 on rear wall iii and the rear coupling member on partition if: for locking the extensions 29 on rear wall l2 to the rear member 5i carried by partition if). The handles '52 of the elements of the set 63 oppose the inner face of the side walls and a side face of partition it. The bends it of elements 68 abut the upper ends of the rear members 55 and members 2 i, 35 on the wall i2. When the elements 66 are in looking position the sid walls, partition and rear wall are connected together and arranged vertically. When the wall 22 is disposed vertically it conceals the bends 13 of, elements 5? and prevents the rearward 'fting of the latter. The forward shifting elem nts 6? is prevented by the coaction of the thereof with the rear of the ends of the lower members Ed and the members 23, bottom The outer looking members of the set lid extend through the member 3:? on top hi and the upper members 5% on the sidewalls for locking the exte lSlOILS t! on top i to the upper combined edges reinforcing and coupling members 5:3 carried by the side walls, and the intermediate locking element of set extends through member on top 56 and the upper member til on partition it for locking the extensions 2? on top it to the upper combined edge reinforcing coupling member 59 carried by partiti The handles E2 of the elements Gil oppose I walls and a side face of the partition H5. The bends T3 of element 89 abut the front ends of the members on top and the front ends of the upper members on the side walls and partition. The elements 69 when in looking position provi for the top if to be anchored upon the side walls and partition and conceal the handle of element es as well as prevent the upward shifting of latter. The outer elements of the set ill extend through member 35 on front wall it and through the front members 5i on the side walls for locking the extensions 42 on wall it to the front combined edges reinforcing and coupling members 5! carried by the side walls and the intermediate locking element of set it extends through the member 23 on front wall is and the front member 55 on partition it for looking the extensions 2% on front wall 53 to the front combined edge reinforcing and coupling member 51 carried by partition it. The elements lil maintain the front wall l3 in a vertical position. The front wall is conceals the handle ends of the locking elements 59. The handles 52 of the elements ill oppose the outer faces of the front wall 53 so that access may be conveniently had to them when it is desired to open or knock down the case. The bends l3 of the elements iii abut the top edges of the front wall it. The latter is locked in upstanding position at three points. The locking elements are to be of a size to be frictionaily held when in locking position.

What I claim is: t 1. A shipping case comprising a one-piece body providing a rectangular bottom, a rectangular "ear wall hinged to said 0' m, a rectangular top hinged to said rear wall ac. a rectangular front wall hinged to said bottom, removable end walls and a partition adapted to be encompassed by said body, coupling memoers of U-shaped cross section throughout and overlapping each edge of each end wall and said partition and formed with notches, said coupling members being continuous and projected from said edges, certain of said coupling members being of greater length than and extended laterally from the ends of the edges which they overlap, the other of the said coupling members corresponding in l ngth to that of the edges which they overlap and their abut the inner side ed es of the laterally extended coupling members, coupling members correspondin in length to and carried by said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall provided with hollow extensions for seating in said notches, and a lower, a rear, an upper and a front set of locking elements coacting with said extensions and the coupling members on said end walls and partition for detachably securing said body to and in encompassing relation w'th respect to end walls and partition.

2. A shipping case comprising a one-piece body roviding a rectangular bottom, a rectangular rear wall hinged to said bottom, a rectangular top hinged to said rear wall and a rectangular front wall hinged to id bottom, removable end walls and a partition to be encompassed by said body, coupling members of U-shaped cross section throughout and overla ping each edge of end wall and said partition and formed with notches, said coupling members being continuous and projected from said edges, certain of said coupling members being of greater length than and extended laterally from the ends of the edges which they overlap, the other of the saidcoupling members corresponding in length to that of the edges which they overlap and have their ends abut the inner side edges of the laterally extended coupling members, coupling members corresponding in length to and carried by said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall and provided with hollow extensions for seating in said notches, and a lower, a rear, an upper and a front set of locking elements coaoting with said extensions and the coupling members on said end walls and partition for detachably securing said body to and in encompassing relation with respect to said end walls and partition, and certain of the coupling members carried by said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall having outwardly directed lateral portions overlapping the end edges of said bottom and rear, top and front walls.

3. A shipping case comprising a one-piece body providing a rectangular bottom, a rectangular rear wall hinged to said bottom, a rectangular top hinged to said rear wall and a rectangular front wall hinged to said bottom, removable end walls and a partition adapted to be encompassed by said body, coupling members of U-shaped cross section throughout and overlapping each edge of each end wall and said partition and formed with notches, said coupling members being continuous and projected from said edges, certain of said coupling members being of greater length than and extended laterally from the ends of the edges which they overlap, the other of said coupling members corresponding in length to that of the edges which they overlap and have their ends abut the inner side edges of the laterally extended coupling members, coupling members corresponding in length to and carried by said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall and provided with hollow extensions for seating in said notches and a lower, a rear, an upper and a front set of locking elements coacting with said extensions and the coupling members on said end walls and partition for detachably securing said body to and in encompassing relation with respect to said end walls and partition, and said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall having the side edges thereof overlapped by certain of said coupling members, and said end walls being inset with respect to the side edges of said coupling members having spaced inherent parts for anchoring them stationary to said body, partition and end walls.

4. A shipping case comprising a one-piece body providing a rectangular bottom, a rectangular rear wall hinged to said bottom, a rectangular top hinged to said rear wall and a rectangular front wall hin ed to said bottom, removable end walls and a partition adapted to be encompassed by said body, coupling members of U-shaped cross section throughout and overlapping each edge of each end wall and said partition and formed with spaced notches, said coupling members being continuous and projected from said edges, certain of said coupling members being of greater length than and extended lateraliy from the ends of the edges which they overlap, the other of said coupling members corresponding in length to that of the edges which they overlap and having their ends abut the inner side edges of the laterally extended coupling members, coupling members corresponding in length to and carried by said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall and provided with hollow extensions for seating in said notches, a lower, a rear, an upper and a front set of locking elements coacting with said extensions and the coupling members on said end walls and partition for detachably securing said body to and in encompassing relation with respect to said end walls and partition, said lower, rear and top sets of locking elements overlapping an end of certain of said coupling members, said lower and rear sets of locking elements being concealed by said rear wall and top, said top set of locking elements being concealed by said front wall, and said front set of locking elements overlapping the outer lengthwise edge of the front wall.

5. In a collapsible shipping crate a one-piece bo'dy providing a bottom, a rear wall hinged to said bottom, a top hinged to said rear wall and lo a front wall hinged to said bottom, removable end walls adapted to be encompassed by said body, coupling members of U-shaped cross sec tion anchored to and extended from each edge of each end wall and formed with spaced notches, 35

one pair of opposed coupling members on an end wall and the partition abutting the other pair of opposed coupling members on an end wall and the partition, said coupling members having spaced inherent parts for anchoring them to said partition and end walls, coupling members anchored to the inner face of and overlapping the side edges of said bottom, rear wall, top and front wall and formed with hollow extensions seating in said notches, and a lower, a rear, an

upper and a front set of locking elements coacting with said extensions and the coupling members on said walls for detachably securing said body to and in encompassing relation with respect to said end walls.

6. A shipping case comprising a one-piece body providing a bottom, a rear Wall hinged to said bottom, a top wall hinged to said rear wall and a front wall hinged to said bottom, removable passed by said body, coupling members of U- shaped cross section throughout and overlapping each edge of each end wall and each edge of said partition, said coupling members being continuend walls and a partition adapted to be encom one and projected from said edges, said members 40 having their notches in the projected portions thereof, certain of said members being of greater length than and extended laterally from the ends of the edges which they overlap, the other of said members corresponding in length to that of the edges which they overlap and having their ends abut the inner side edges of the laterally extending members, COllplill members carried by said bottom, rear, top and front walls and provided with hollow extensions for seating in said 

